Removable Cable Tray Side Wall Bracket for Fast Tee Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing overhead cable routing systems are time-consuming and costly to install, especially when creating tee or right-angle pathways, and they often result in sharp edges due to the need to cut sidewalls.
Innovation Solution
A cable tray system with removable side wall brackets that include an upper loop with curved portions leading to angled legs with U-shaped inside and hook outside leg portions, allowing secure attachment to longitudinal wires without excessive force, enabling easy installation and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sidewalls of cable basket or cable duct are cut to create tee or right angle pathways, then cable routing flexibility is improved, but installation time increases and sharp edges are created
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall bracket is divided into separate modular components including an upper loop portion and angled leg portions that can be independently assembled. This segmentation allows the bracket to be pre-fabricated with precise geometry, eliminating the need for on-site cutting and reducing installation time while maintaining routing flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The side wall bracket incorporates movable or adjustable elements that allow it to adapt to different cable routing configurations (tee, cross, right angle pathways) without requiring permanent modifications to the cable basket structure, thereby reducing installation time and avoiding sharp edges.
2Adaptability or versatility
If sidewalls are cut to create cable pathways, then cable routing adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to sharp edges
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the side wall bracket into separate components with pre-formed precise geometries, the invention eliminates the need for cutting operations that create sharp edges, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while achieving cable routing adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The side wall bracket acts as an intermediary component that provides the necessary cable routing adaptability without directly modifying the cable basket sidewalls, thus preserving the original manufacturing precision and avoiding sharp edges.
3Reliability
If side wall brackets are securely attached to cable tray, then cable retention is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to attachment difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall bracket is segmented into an upper loop portion and angled leg portions that can be independently positioned and attached. This segmentation enables each component to be secured separately to the cable tray wires, ensuring reliable cable retention while simplifying the installation process through modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The hooked configuration of the angled leg portions serves as an intermediary mechanism that facilitates easy attachment to the cable tray wires while maintaining secure cable retention, bridging the gap between ease of operation and reliability.
4Ease of operation
If removable side wall brackets are used instead of cutting sidewalls, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
While segmentation does increase the number of components, the upper loop portion and angled leg portions are designed with simple, standardized geometries that minimize overall system complexity. The segmented structure enables easy installation and removal while maintaining cable retention functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The side wall bracket is designed as a universal component that can be applied to various cable routing configurations (tee, cross, right angle pathways) without requiring custom fabrication. This multi-functionality justifies the moderate increase in device complexity by eliminating the need for multiple specialized cutting operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable tray and at least one side wall bracket secured to the cable tray is disclosed. The cable tray has a plurality of transverse and longitudinal wires. The side wall bracket has an upper loop with a first end and a second end. Curved portions extend from the first end and the second end of the upper loop. An angled leg extends from each curved portion. The angled legs are defined by a U-shaped inside leg portion and a hook that leads to an outside leg portion. The inside leg portion of each angled leg engages a first surface of side longitudinal wires and bottom longitudinal wires and the outside leg portion of each angled leg engages a second surface opposite the first surface of side longitudinal wires and bottom longitudinal wires to secure the side wall bracket to the cable tray.